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TCU Set for First Big 12 Matchup vs. Sooners
Frogs to visit Norman for first time since 2006
FORT WORTH -- TCU travels north to Norman, Okla., for its first Big 12 meeting with Oklahoma on Monday at the Sooners' Lloyd Noble Center. The matchup, which will be televised live by ESPNU, is set to tip off at 6 p.m.
TCU (10-13 overall; 1-9 Big 12) looks to get back on the winning track following a Saturday home setback to West Virginia. The Horned Frogs will shoot for their first Big 12 road win after gaining their first conference home victory Wednesday vs. No. 5 Kansas.
Oklahoma (15-7; 6-4 Big 12) enters the matchup riding high after snapping a two-game losing streak Saturday with a home victory of its own against the Jayhawks, 72-66. The Sooners are in a three-way tie for fourth place in the league standings.
OU and TCU will meet for the 11th time on the hardwood and the first time since a home-and-home series played in 2006 and 2007. The Sooners lead the all-time series, 9-1.
ESPNU (DirecTV 208; Dish 141) will televise Monday's contest with the broadcast duo of Dave Armstrong (play-by-play) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) calling the action. The telecast also will be offered online at WatchESPN.com to qualified cable subscribers.
Brian Estridge (pxp) and John Denton (analyst) will handle the TCU-IMG Sports Network radio broadcast, which will air live in the DFW Metroplex on both 570 KLIF AM and 88.7 FM KTCU. Fans can also follow the OU home broadcast on satellite radio via Sirius channel 91 and XM 91. Live stats will be available for free via GameTracker at GoFrogs.com, while a live stream of the radio broadcast will be offered online for FrogVision subscribers.
FROG QUICK NOTES
* TCU ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 26 in the NCAA in scoring defense (58.5 ppg). The squad is No. 24 nationally in fewest 3-pointers allowed (107).
* TCU's scoring defense average is nearly 14 points fewer per game than last season's final figure (72.1 ppg) and would be the Frogs' lowest since 1952-53 (56.0 ppg).
* TCU is tied for third in the Big 12 in turnovers forced during league action (13.3 tpg).
* TCU has attempted only 233 shots from 3-point range this year, which ranks 346th out of 347 NCAA Division I teams. Only Lamar (142) has attempted fewer treys.
* TCU is 10-1 in when outshooting the opponent and 0-12 when shooting at a lower rate. The squad is 7-1 when posting a mark of at least 45.0% overall and 7-1 when leading at the half.
* Adrick McKinney leads TCU in Big 12 scoring (9.3 ppg), while Connell Crossland tops the team in league rebounding (7.1 rpg).
* Crossland is averaging just under a double-double over the last five games (10.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg) while shooting a team-best 62.5% from the floor. His 52 points and 47 rebounds are career-best totals for a five-game stretch.
* Crossland has led TCU in rebounds in each of the last three games with at least nine boards in each contest.
* In Big 12 play, Crossland is No. 7 in the league in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and No. 5 in offensive boards (2.9 rpg).
* McKinney is ninth in the Big 12 in overall rebounding average (6.9 rpg) and tied for No. 8 since the start of league play (7.0 rpg). He ranks No. 3 in offensive rebounds in Big 12 games (3.0 rpg).
* McKinney has scored in double figures in eight of the last 15 games. He had done so only seven times in 40 career games entering the stretch.
* McKinney has led TCU in rebounding in 11 of the last 17 games, averaging 8.2 rpg. He had paced the squad only five times in 37 career games entering the current stretch.
* McKinney has pulled in at least five boards in each of the last 17 contests, the longest streak for a Frog since 2009-10 (Zvonko Buljan, 24 straight).
* Garlon Green has played in 101 straight games for TCU. He has climbed into the No. 7 spot on TCU's career charts for games played (120) and minutes (2,994). He will move into a tie for No. 5 on the games played list with Blake Adams (2004-07) and Reggie Smith (1989-92) with his next appearance.
* Green has scored 20 points or more five times this season and ranks fifth in the Big 12 with eight career performances.
* Green is averaging a team-high 12.0 ppg and shooting 41.3% from 3-point range (19-of-46) since the Dec. 8 loss at Tulsa.
* Prior to the current stretch, Green was 0-for-5 from outside the arc in the first nine contests.
* Nate Butler Lind has matched his career scoring high of 10 points twice in the last four games and has totaled a personal-best 31 points during the stretch.
* Kyan Anderson ranks among the Big 12 leaders in steals (No. 6), minutes played (No. 7), assists (No. 8), assist/turnover ratio (No. 9) and scoring (No. 18).
* Anderson's 35-point game Dec. 22 at Rice ranks as the top individual scoring performance by a Big 12 player this season.
* McKinney's 20-rebound effort Dec. 4 vs. Houston is tied for the top Big 12 effort on the glass (Isaiah Austin, Baylor).
* Charles Hill Jr. has scored 43 of his 48 points this season in Big 12 action. He is averaging 25.2 minutes in conference games after playing only 29 minutes total in non-conference.
* TCU has featured nine different starting lineups this season.
* TCU has allowed 50 points or fewer five times. Its five previous efforts allowing 50 or fewer stretched back over 127 games to 2008.
* TCU has attempted 208 free throws in Big 12 play compared to only 157 for its opponents, an average margin of +5.1 pg.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma enters Monday's matchup at 15-7 overall and tied for fourth place in the Big 12 standings with a 6-4 league mark. The squad, which is 4-1 in home conference matchups, erased a two-game skid with a Saturday win over No. 5 Kansas in Norman (72-66).
Second-year head coach Lon Kruger directs a Sooners group that returned all five starters from last season's team that posted a 15-16 overall record and eighth-place finish in the Big 12 (5-11).
Senior forward Romero Osby leads OU in both scoring average (13.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg). He ranks No. 9 and No. 11 in the Big 12 in the respective categories. Senior guard Steven Pledger (10.9 ppg) and junior forward Amath M'Baye (10.4 ppg) also average double figures in points. Pledger is No. 5 in the league in 3-pointers (1.3 3pg).
Oklahoma is among the nation's leaders in 3-point field-goal defense (No. 57; 31.0%), free-throw percentage (No. 60; 72.9%) and offensive rebounding (No. 77; 12.5 rpg). The squad ranks No. 6 in the Big 12 in both scoring offense (67.6 ppg) and scoring margin (+4.0 ppg).
INSIDE THE SERIES
TCU and Oklahoma have met 12 times in the all-time series with the Sooners holding an 11-1 edge. OU has won the last three meetings dating back the Frogs' last win on Dec. 27, 1986 in the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City (95-82). TCU has yet to win in five previous trips to Norman.
TCU vs. Oklahoma - Last Five Meetings
Date * W/L * Score * Site
Dec. 4, 1967 * L * 57-66 * Fort Worth
Dec. 27, 1986 * W * 95-82 * Oklahoma City
Dec. 28, 1991 * L * 73-78 * Oklahoma City
Dec. 2, 2006 * L * 35-63 * Norman
Dec. 2, 2007 * L * 66-90 * Fort Worth
LAST TIME WE MET: OU 90, TCU 66
Oklahoma snapped a six-game TCU home winning streak with a 90-66 victory over the Frogs on Dec. 2, 2007. Guard Tony Crocker led a group of three Sooners that finished in double figures with a game-high 24 points.
OU jumped on top from the game's outset, posting a 14-4 advantage in the first five-plus minutes. The squad led by 18 at intermission, 45-27, and shot a sizzling 54.7% from the floor for the game. The Sooners also went 12-of-23 (52.2%) from beyond the arc while holding TCU to only 35.4% overall shooting for the contest.
Joining Crocker atop the Oklahoma scoring chart were freshman Blake Griffin (15) and guard Austin Jackson (13). Guard Henry Salter led the Frogs' scoring efforts with 18 points that included a 5-of-6 showing from 3-point range. Forward Kevin Langford added 11 points for TCU.
LAST TIME OUT: WEST VIRGINIA 63, TCU 50
Kyan Anderson scored a team-high 16 points, but West Virginia stepped up its defensive game plan in the second half to defeat TCU at the DMC on Saturday, 63-50.
TCU recorded one of its best shooting halves of the season in the opening period but still found itself trailing by three at intermission due to an aggressive WVU defense that forced the Frogs into 12 turnovers. The Frogs kept themselves in the game by making 9-of-15 field goals in the half, good for a 60.0% clip, while posting a 16-5 rebounding edge.
TCU's offensive success would not last, as WVU switched to a zone defensive scheme in the second half that stifled the Frogs' efforts. The Mountaineers held TCU to only 25.0% shooting following intermission.
The Frogs briefly regained a one-point edge following halftime by scoring the first four points of the period, but WVU had the answer that put it back in front for good. The Mountaineers responded with an 11-2 run to move back in front by eight, then another 9-1 later in the half to push ahead by 11, 51-40. Harris sank 3-pointers to conclude both runs.
Anderson led TCU's scoring attack with a 7-of-12 shooting performance. Connell Crossland also reached double figures for the third time in the last five games with a career-high 13 points and added a game-high nine rebounds, while Nate Butler Lind continued the best offensive stretch of his career with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting.
TCU-WEST VIRGINIA POSTGAME NOTES
* Kyan Anderson's 16 points marked his most since totaling 19 during the Jan. 23 loss at West Virginia.
* Connell Crossland's 13 points surpassed his previous best of 12 points recorded on three occasions.
* Crossland made 7-of-9 free-throw attempts, which both marked career bests.
* Crossland led TCU on the glass for the third consecutive game, pulling down nine rebounds.
* TCU posted a 35-24 edge on the glass, its best in Big 12 play.
* TCU attempted 19 3-pointers, its most in Big 12 play.
CROSSLAND CLOSING CAREER STRONG
Connell Crossland has always been a steady player for TCU since arriving on campus in 2011-12, but he has taken his game to another level since the start of the Big 12 schedule.
* Crossland is fifth on the team in scoring and second in rebounding despite starting only eight of 22 contests. He is No. 14 in the Big 12 in rebounding.
* Since the start of the Big 12 schedule, Crossland leads TCU in rebounding and is No. 7 in the Big 12. He is the team's fourth-leading scorer in league play.
* Crossland is in the midst of the best stretch of his career, having combined for 52 points over the past five games while averaging 9.4 rebounds.
* Crossland set a new career scoring high during the home loss to West Virginia with 13 points. He made 7-of-9 free-throw attempts, also personal bests, and led TCU on the glass for a third straight game with nine boards.
* Crossland provided TCU with a huge performance during the previous game, a home win over No. 5 Kansas, by totaling a career-high 15 boards to go with eight points. It was his second straight game with at least 12 rebounds.
* The effort vs. Kansas marked Crossland's team-high fourth this season, and fifth in his career, with at least 10 boards.
* Crossland scored 10-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career Jan. 23 at West Virginia (11) and Jan. 26 vs. Baylor (12).
* Crossland has scored at least eight points 11 times compared to only three times all of last season. He has already set career highs for points, rebounds, steals, blocked shots and minutes played in a season.
* Crossland has one double-double this season against Centenary (12 points, 10 rebounds) with two additional near misses Dec. 22 at Rice (nine points and 11 boards) and Feb. 2 at Texas (eight points and 12 boards).
* Crossland made eight straight starts at the end of last season, including both of TCU's victories over ranked teams in wins vs. No. 11 UNLV and No. 18 New Mexico.
TCU Set for First Big 12 Matchup vs. Sooners
Frogs to visit Norman for first time since 2006
FORT WORTH -- TCU travels north to Norman, Okla., for its first Big 12 meeting with Oklahoma on Monday at the Sooners' Lloyd Noble Center. The matchup, which will be televised live by ESPNU, is set to tip off at 6 p.m.
TCU (10-13 overall; 1-9 Big 12) looks to get back on the winning track following a Saturday home setback to West Virginia. The Horned Frogs will shoot for their first Big 12 road win after gaining their first conference home victory Wednesday vs. No. 5 Kansas.
Oklahoma (15-7; 6-4 Big 12) enters the matchup riding high after snapping a two-game losing streak Saturday with a home victory of its own against the Jayhawks, 72-66. The Sooners are in a three-way tie for fourth place in the league standings.
OU and TCU will meet for the 11th time on the hardwood and the first time since a home-and-home series played in 2006 and 2007. The Sooners lead the all-time series, 9-1.
ESPNU (DirecTV 208; Dish 141) will televise Monday's contest with the broadcast duo of Dave Armstrong (play-by-play) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) calling the action. The telecast also will be offered online at WatchESPN.com to qualified cable subscribers.
Brian Estridge (pxp) and John Denton (analyst) will handle the TCU-IMG Sports Network radio broadcast, which will air live in the DFW Metroplex on both 570 KLIF AM and 88.7 FM KTCU. Fans can also follow the OU home broadcast on satellite radio via Sirius channel 91 and XM 91. Live stats will be available for free via GameTracker at GoFrogs.com, while a live stream of the radio broadcast will be offered online for FrogVision subscribers.
FROG QUICK NOTES
* TCU ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 26 in the NCAA in scoring defense (58.5 ppg). The squad is No. 24 nationally in fewest 3-pointers allowed (107).
* TCU's scoring defense average is nearly 14 points fewer per game than last season's final figure (72.1 ppg) and would be the Frogs' lowest since 1952-53 (56.0 ppg).
* TCU is tied for third in the Big 12 in turnovers forced during league action (13.3 tpg).
* TCU has attempted only 233 shots from 3-point range this year, which ranks 346th out of 347 NCAA Division I teams. Only Lamar (142) has attempted fewer treys.
* TCU is 10-1 in when outshooting the opponent and 0-12 when shooting at a lower rate. The squad is 7-1 when posting a mark of at least 45.0% overall and 7-1 when leading at the half.
* Adrick McKinney leads TCU in Big 12 scoring (9.3 ppg), while Connell Crossland tops the team in league rebounding (7.1 rpg).
* Crossland is averaging just under a double-double over the last five games (10.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg) while shooting a team-best 62.5% from the floor. His 52 points and 47 rebounds are career-best totals for a five-game stretch.
* Crossland has led TCU in rebounds in each of the last three games with at least nine boards in each contest.
* In Big 12 play, Crossland is No. 7 in the league in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and No. 5 in offensive boards (2.9 rpg).
* McKinney is ninth in the Big 12 in overall rebounding average (6.9 rpg) and tied for No. 8 since the start of league play (7.0 rpg). He ranks No. 3 in offensive rebounds in Big 12 games (3.0 rpg).
* McKinney has scored in double figures in eight of the last 15 games. He had done so only seven times in 40 career games entering the stretch.
* McKinney has led TCU in rebounding in 11 of the last 17 games, averaging 8.2 rpg. He had paced the squad only five times in 37 career games entering the current stretch.
* McKinney has pulled in at least five boards in each of the last 17 contests, the longest streak for a Frog since 2009-10 (Zvonko Buljan, 24 straight).
* Garlon Green has played in 101 straight games for TCU. He has climbed into the No. 7 spot on TCU's career charts for games played (120) and minutes (2,994). He will move into a tie for No. 5 on the games played list with Blake Adams (2004-07) and Reggie Smith (1989-92) with his next appearance.
* Green has scored 20 points or more five times this season and ranks fifth in the Big 12 with eight career performances.
* Green is averaging a team-high 12.0 ppg and shooting 41.3% from 3-point range (19-of-46) since the Dec. 8 loss at Tulsa.
* Prior to the current stretch, Green was 0-for-5 from outside the arc in the first nine contests.
* Nate Butler Lind has matched his career scoring high of 10 points twice in the last four games and has totaled a personal-best 31 points during the stretch.
* Kyan Anderson ranks among the Big 12 leaders in steals (No. 6), minutes played (No. 7), assists (No. 8), assist/turnover ratio (No. 9) and scoring (No. 18).
* Anderson's 35-point game Dec. 22 at Rice ranks as the top individual scoring performance by a Big 12 player this season.
* McKinney's 20-rebound effort Dec. 4 vs. Houston is tied for the top Big 12 effort on the glass (Isaiah Austin, Baylor).
* Charles Hill Jr. has scored 43 of his 48 points this season in Big 12 action. He is averaging 25.2 minutes in conference games after playing only 29 minutes total in non-conference.
* TCU has featured nine different starting lineups this season.
* TCU has allowed 50 points or fewer five times. Its five previous efforts allowing 50 or fewer stretched back over 127 games to 2008.
* TCU has attempted 208 free throws in Big 12 play compared to only 157 for its opponents, an average margin of +5.1 pg.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma enters Monday's matchup at 15-7 overall and tied for fourth place in the Big 12 standings with a 6-4 league mark. The squad, which is 4-1 in home conference matchups, erased a two-game skid with a Saturday win over No. 5 Kansas in Norman (72-66).
Second-year head coach Lon Kruger directs a Sooners group that returned all five starters from last season's team that posted a 15-16 overall record and eighth-place finish in the Big 12 (5-11).
Senior forward Romero Osby leads OU in both scoring average (13.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg). He ranks No. 9 and No. 11 in the Big 12 in the respective categories. Senior guard Steven Pledger (10.9 ppg) and junior forward Amath M'Baye (10.4 ppg) also average double figures in points. Pledger is No. 5 in the league in 3-pointers (1.3 3pg).
Oklahoma is among the nation's leaders in 3-point field-goal defense (No. 57; 31.0%), free-throw percentage (No. 60; 72.9%) and offensive rebounding (No. 77; 12.5 rpg). The squad ranks No. 6 in the Big 12 in both scoring offense (67.6 ppg) and scoring margin (+4.0 ppg).
INSIDE THE SERIES
TCU and Oklahoma have met 12 times in the all-time series with the Sooners holding an 11-1 edge. OU has won the last three meetings dating back the Frogs' last win on Dec. 27, 1986 in the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City (95-82). TCU has yet to win in five previous trips to Norman.
TCU vs. Oklahoma - Last Five Meetings
Date * W/L * Score * Site
Dec. 4, 1967 * L * 57-66 * Fort Worth
Dec. 27, 1986 * W * 95-82 * Oklahoma City
Dec. 28, 1991 * L * 73-78 * Oklahoma City
Dec. 2, 2006 * L * 35-63 * Norman
Dec. 2, 2007 * L * 66-90 * Fort Worth
LAST TIME WE MET: OU 90, TCU 66
Oklahoma snapped a six-game TCU home winning streak with a 90-66 victory over the Frogs on Dec. 2, 2007. Guard Tony Crocker led a group of three Sooners that finished in double figures with a game-high 24 points.
OU jumped on top from the game's outset, posting a 14-4 advantage in the first five-plus minutes. The squad led by 18 at intermission, 45-27, and shot a sizzling 54.7% from the floor for the game. The Sooners also went 12-of-23 (52.2%) from beyond the arc while holding TCU to only 35.4% overall shooting for the contest.
Joining Crocker atop the Oklahoma scoring chart were freshman Blake Griffin (15) and guard Austin Jackson (13). Guard Henry Salter led the Frogs' scoring efforts with 18 points that included a 5-of-6 showing from 3-point range. Forward Kevin Langford added 11 points for TCU.
LAST TIME OUT: WEST VIRGINIA 63, TCU 50
Kyan Anderson scored a team-high 16 points, but West Virginia stepped up its defensive game plan in the second half to defeat TCU at the DMC on Saturday, 63-50.
TCU recorded one of its best shooting halves of the season in the opening period but still found itself trailing by three at intermission due to an aggressive WVU defense that forced the Frogs into 12 turnovers. The Frogs kept themselves in the game by making 9-of-15 field goals in the half, good for a 60.0% clip, while posting a 16-5 rebounding edge.
TCU's offensive success would not last, as WVU switched to a zone defensive scheme in the second half that stifled the Frogs' efforts. The Mountaineers held TCU to only 25.0% shooting following intermission.
The Frogs briefly regained a one-point edge following halftime by scoring the first four points of the period, but WVU had the answer that put it back in front for good. The Mountaineers responded with an 11-2 run to move back in front by eight, then another 9-1 later in the half to push ahead by 11, 51-40. Harris sank 3-pointers to conclude both runs.
Anderson led TCU's scoring attack with a 7-of-12 shooting performance. Connell Crossland also reached double figures for the third time in the last five games with a career-high 13 points and added a game-high nine rebounds, while Nate Butler Lind continued the best offensive stretch of his career with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting.
TCU-WEST VIRGINIA POSTGAME NOTES
* Kyan Anderson's 16 points marked his most since totaling 19 during the Jan. 23 loss at West Virginia.
* Connell Crossland's 13 points surpassed his previous best of 12 points recorded on three occasions.
* Crossland made 7-of-9 free-throw attempts, which both marked career bests.
* Crossland led TCU on the glass for the third consecutive game, pulling down nine rebounds.
* TCU posted a 35-24 edge on the glass, its best in Big 12 play.
* TCU attempted 19 3-pointers, its most in Big 12 play.
CROSSLAND CLOSING CAREER STRONG
Connell Crossland has always been a steady player for TCU since arriving on campus in 2011-12, but he has taken his game to another level since the start of the Big 12 schedule.
* Crossland is fifth on the team in scoring and second in rebounding despite starting only eight of 22 contests. He is No. 14 in the Big 12 in rebounding.
* Since the start of the Big 12 schedule, Crossland leads TCU in rebounding and is No. 7 in the Big 12. He is the team's fourth-leading scorer in league play.
* Crossland is in the midst of the best stretch of his career, having combined for 52 points over the past five games while averaging 9.4 rebounds.
* Crossland set a new career scoring high during the home loss to West Virginia with 13 points. He made 7-of-9 free-throw attempts, also personal bests, and led TCU on the glass for a third straight game with nine boards.
* Crossland provided TCU with a huge performance during the previous game, a home win over No. 5 Kansas, by totaling a career-high 15 boards to go with eight points. It was his second straight game with at least 12 rebounds.
* The effort vs. Kansas marked Crossland's team-high fourth this season, and fifth in his career, with at least 10 boards.
* Crossland scored 10-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career Jan. 23 at West Virginia (11) and Jan. 26 vs. Baylor (12).
* Crossland has scored at least eight points 11 times compared to only three times all of last season. He has already set career highs for points, rebounds, steals, blocked shots and minutes played in a season.
* Crossland has one double-double this season against Centenary (12 points, 10 rebounds) with two additional near misses Dec. 22 at Rice (nine points and 11 boards) and Feb. 2 at Texas (eight points and 12 boards).
* Crossland made eight straight starts at the end of last season, including both of TCU's victories over ranked teams in wins vs. No. 11 UNLV and No. 18 New Mexico.
